Sperm adsorbed with retrovirus particles were recovered from the epididymis of apparently normal male mice. Epididymal semen from all four mouse strains examined was positive for retrovirus (105 to 108 particles per ,ug of protein) indicating that epididymal fluids and sperm may be important vehicles for murine retrovirus spread. Immunoblot analyses revealed that the banding patterns of electrophoretically separated epididymal viral proteins from the four strains of males were more similar to each other than to either xenotropic New Zealand Black virus or ecotropic Rauscher leukemia virus proteins. The results indicate that retrovirus particles, possibly a unique strain, are commonly expressed at relatively high titers in the reproductive tract of male mice and are sperm-associated.A complete understanding of the transmissibility of retroviruses requires understanding the interaction of retroviruses with reproductive tract and embryonic cells. Although a principal mode of transmission of acquired immune deficiency syndrome is through sexual contact with seminal fluid that contains human immunodeficiency virus (1-6; §), retrovirus infection of the human reproductive tract is not understood nor is it known if other retroviruses, animal or human, are spread through sexual contact with reproductive tract secretions. The detection of retroviral reverse transcriptase activity in cell-free epididymal fluids from several strains of mice (7) and reports of viral glycoprotein, gp70, expression in mouse epididymis (8) indicated that retrovirus particles may be common in the reproductive tract of male mice. Based on the amount of reverse transcriptase activity detected, virus concentration estimates were as high as 109 particles per Al of epididymal semen (7,9). Epididymal fluids could thus be an important vehicle for murine retrovirus spread. In addition, partially purified sperm retained some of the reverse transcriptase activity, implying an association between the sperm cells and the reproductive tract retroviruses. Spermbound retroviruses would have access to all the cells contacted by motile sperm, including oocytes.To begin to determine if murine retroviruses could be spread by sexual contact, we have examined epididymal semen from four mouse strains: two known to contain endogenous xenotropic retroviral gene sequences, New Zealand Black (NZB) and random-bred Swiss (10), and two known to contain endogenous ecotropic as well as xenotropic retroviral gene sequences, C57BL/6 and AKR (11). The results reported here indicate that retrovirus particles are common in mouse epididymal semen and are sperm-associated. MATERIALS AND METHODSMouse Strains and Epididymal Semen Preparations. Mature males, 6-12 weeks of age, or retired breeders were from VAF (virus-antibody free) stocks. Strains C57BL/6, AKR, and New Zealand Black (NZB) were from the Jackson Laboratories; Cox Swiss males were from Laboratory Supply (Indianapolis, IN). Semen from the cauda epididymis and ductus deferens was collected in buffer A [0.01 M Tris H...
It has been shown by many workers in the United States that wild birds are associated with the natural history of Western equine encephalitis (WEE). They have also demonstrated that birds can be infected with WEE virus through the bite of an infected mosquito. Wild ducks of many species make up a large part of the bird population to be found in Saskatchewan from April to November each year. By using the neutralization technique, we have found that WEE antibodies are present in the blood of many wild ducks, indicating previous infection with the virus. Further studies carried out at this laboratory showed that wild ducks can be infected with the virus by the oral route, suggesting another possible means by which birds could be naturally infected.
Four experiments are reported in whic-h six moldy wheats were incorporated into the rations of turkey poults tor a-6-weeK penoo' t 'l;;dy orr" of t*,"r"-aia -aay *tt"1tr.u9ed as the sble-source-of cereal grain in the stafter, ,]sfuE.]'';it ('P {-Obi)-t"*"t body weights belorv those of the control rations.Assays of '10 samples of moldy-wheatsshowed ttr,ag only trvo (5 per cent)
A new species of Acanthocephala, Polymorphus paradoxus, is described from beavers (Castor canadensis) and muskrats (Ondatra zibethica) from a lake in Elk Island National Park, Alberta. A species of amphipod in the lake was heavily infected with larval Acanthocephala, although the possible relationship of this infection to that in the beaver and muskrat has not yet been determined. While all other species of Polymorphus have been described from birds, a possible avian host of P. paradoxus has not yet been found.
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